You are browsing the Blog for news.

This Week’s News (14/11/2011)

Hello Amnesty people!

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend! This is a roundup of the coming meeting and events, but please scroll down further to check out what our brilliant sister society, STAR (Student Action For Refugees) have coming up, too.

This week’s meeting

We’re in Committee Room 1 in the QMU, Tuesday at 5pm.

This week’s meeting is an exciting one as we have a guest speaker, Alieu Ceesay, coming to speak to us about the human rights situation in Gambia. He’s our first speaker of the year so be sure to come along! Along with Alieu there’ll be some members of the Glasgow-based Gambia group who will be more than happy to answer any questions we may have. After the talk we’ll do some actions, as well as continuing to make plans for the carol singing and PRing for the club night at Stereo.

Coming up

– Protect the Human club night at Stereo, Thurs December 1st: This is creeping up on us! The flyers have been printed so we’ll get together a PR team to distribute them everywhere! As well as PRing we need people to come and have a drink and a dance all in aid of Amnesty.

– Christmas caroling: We have a good amount of names down for this, as well as singers from the Choral Society (thank goodness). So Elena and Jessie will make some announcements on Tuesday about what happens next!

-Write for Rights Day, Sat December 10th: The anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is Amnesty’s biggest letter writing date. Check out this link for more info http://www.amnesty.ca/writeathon/. A couple of us are going to the Glasgow Daytime Amnesty Group to brainstorm some ideas for a bigger event we could hold on this date. Throw any ideas this way!

– The Secret Policeman’s Ball is confirmed for Saturday 4th February in Qudos- very exciting! Billy Kirkwood is confirmed as our compere and in the next month we’ll get going on a big publicity drive- there’s lot’s to do! Our posters are being prepared right now. This annual night of comedy has been more and more successful over the last couple of years, raising thousands of pounds for Amnesty, and we want to make this one the biggest yet!

– If you have any fundraising/campaigning ideas, please share them!

If you’ve not been to meetings so far, please come along- newcomers are always welcome. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, 5pm in Qudos in the QMU.

See you on Tuesday at the meeting!

Catherine

Website: http://www.guamnesty.org.uk/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/guamnesty
Please join our Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/guamnesty/

A wee bit of information from STAR (Student Action for Refugees) Glasgow

Recent changes in legislation have meant that the UK Border Agency is now able to forcibly remove families from their homes in order to deport them. This led to the dawn raiding of two families last week and then the detaining of a mother and her 5 year old son who. Dawn raiding was stopped a few years ago and the coalition promised when they took power to stop child detention, shortly before opening a ‘family removals centre’ however both of these things appear to be with us again. These actions breach human rights and are likely to be more frequent unless something is changed so a mass protest is being held next Monday (the 21st of November) at the Glasgow Home Office on Brand Street, 2 minutes from Cessnock Underground to call for them to be stopped.

Also coming up: A ceilidh this Thursday at 8pm in Qudos to raise money for John Oguchukwu, a student of our university who was deported and a Sleep Out this Friday to raise awareness for destitute asylum seekers in Glasgow.

More information on all of these events at www.starglasgow.wordpress.com

Tags:
No Comments »

More News!

Hello Amnestiers!

Stop Stoning

Firstly, a biiiig well done to all the campaigners who stood on library hill last Wednesday for our End Stoning campaign. We were there for just over two hours and collected an amazing 458 names! Thanks to everyone for your time and enthusiasm!


(End Stoning: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=12139)

This week’s meeting

We’re in Qudos in the QMU on Tuesday at 5pm and we’ll be focusing on human rights in Burma, as well as planning publicity for upcoming fundraising events (see below!).

Coming up

– Protect the Human club night at Stereo, Thurs December 1st: In the coming weeks we need to people to PR for this, but the most important thing to is to come and have a drink and a dance with all proceeds going towards Amnesty!

– Christmas caroling: This week we’ll start organising this properly and get an Amnesty choir together in preparation for caroling in December. Join in whether you can sing or not!

– The Secret Policeman’s Ball is confirmed for Saturday 4th February in Qudos- very exciting! Billy Kirkwood is confirmed as our compere and in the next month we’ll get going on a big publicity drive- there’s lot’s to do! Our posters are being prepared right now. This annual night of comedy has been more and more successful over the last couple of years, raising thousands of pounds for Amnesty, and we want to make this one the biggest yet!

– If you have any fundraising/campaigning ideas, please share them!

If you’ve not been to meetings so far, please come along- newcomers are always welcome. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, 5pm in Qudos in the QMU.

See you on Tuesday at the meeting!

Catherine

Website: http://www.guamnesty.org.uk/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/guamnesty
Please join our Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/guamnesty/

Tags: ,
No Comments »

Week 4 Weekly News and Updates!

Hello GU Amnestiers!

Hope you’ve all had a lovely weekend.  Was great to see so many back on Tuesday- and to have so much more space in Qudos was such a delight!  We’re back in Qudos, 5pm on Tuesday in the QMU.  After the vote on campaign areas last week, the two which came out on top were human rights in Burma and women’s rights, so these will be our campaigns for the next few weeks!

This week’s meeting

This week we’re focusing on women’s rights.  We’ll have three areas set up; one on women in Afghanistan, one on women in Iran, and another dedicated to banner making for all the arty types!  There’s loads of information on the AI UK website:

http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=10220. and of course there’ll be loads to learn and discuss at the meeting on Tuesday.

Also, we’re having our second social at The Common Rooms straight after the meeting.  Please come along for drinks and FREE FOOD!!

Coming up  

 

– TOMORROW! World Day Against the Death Penalty on Monday 10th October: ACTION ON LIBRARY HILL 11-3PM.  We’re doing a visual action tomorrow, holding placards with death penalty prisoners’ names on library hill leading up to a table with a petition.  Please come along and get involved/support out first taste of activism this year! http://www.worldcoalition.org/worldday.html.

 

- This Wednesday, 12th Oct, there is a film screening in The Arches about women’s rights in South Korea.  The tickets are £2, and the lady who is running the night is coming to the meeting on Tuesday to tell us more about it.

 

- Weekend away: please fill out the poll on Facebook if you want to come! http://www.facebook.com/groups/guamnesty/.  The dates are either the 21st-23nd Oct or the 4th-6th Nov, staying for two nights on Arran.  It will be a brilliant weekend and a great way to get to know one another!

 

– The Big Fun Run (http://www.bigfunrun.com/?glasgow&locations_id=61) on Saturday 29th October: we’re hoping that many of you will get your running/walking shoes on for this 5k event- there’ll be more details closer to the time.

 

- The Secret Policeman’s Ball is confirmed for Saturday 4th February in Qudos- very exciting!  Billy Kirkwood is confirmed as our compere and in the next couple of months we’ll get going on a big publicity drive- there’s lot’s to do!  This annual night of comedy has been increasingly successful over the last couple of years, raising thousands of pounds for Amnesty, and we want to make this one the biggest yet!

 

–  As well as all this, there’s loads more in the pipeline: a club night, a freedom of expression night, Christmas caroling, and please tell us if you’re keen to organise something, or have a fundraising or campaigning idea.

If you’ve not been to the first three meetings, please come along- newcomers are always welcome. Our next meeting is in QUDOS, at 5pm, Tuesday, QMU.  


See you on Tuesday at the meeting and social afterwards!

Catherine

 

Website: http://www.guamnesty.org.uk/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/guamnesty

Please join our Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/guamnesty/

Tags: ,
No Comments »

Aung San Released! And This Weeks Happenings

Hello everyone,

I hope you are all well on this pivotal day! Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s opposition leader and our longest-serving prisoner of conscience, has finally been released after spending 15 of the last 21 years under house arrest! Everyone who has ever taken part in any of the Burma campaign…you made a difference and here is the evidence! However, although it’s fantastic news and certainly provides hope there are still 2,200 political prisoners behind bars in Burma and the fight doesn’t end here.

This week in GU Amnesty:

Monday 15th November: 5pm, Jim’s bar, QMU, Amnesty funternational preparation meeting. (more details below)

Tuesday’s meeting: A call for celebration, let’s take some recognition for Suu Kyi’s release! We shall also be looking at some of Amnesty’s latest campaigns, violence against women, Scottish gypsy travellers and the ongoing Burmese battle. Come along on Tuesday for some debate, activism and a wee celebrate!

Wednesday 17th November: Film screening following last weeks talk on Falun Gong practitioners. The film shall concentrate on the horrific Organ harvesting that takes place and will finish with some ending comments from Yu Yu Williamson. 6pm, Boyd Orr, lecture theatre B, level 4.

Sunday 21st November: Amnesty Funternational, 8pm, £3, Jims bar, QMU. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=505925847#!/event.php?eid=176376639043011

Coming up: GU amnesty love Christmas and what a chance to utilise for fundraising initiatives. Details shall be given out on Tuesday but over the coming weeks we’re looking to put together a carol singing group, get crafty making some christmassy decorations/cards and organise a winter folk night!

More Info:

Aung San Suu Kyi:

The message here is not to be fooled. There is still a huge way to go in Burma. However, we can be pleased that a step in the right direction has been taken and so although we’re going to celebrate let’s not forget those who are still behind bars, http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=19085&utm_source=aiuk&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=homepage&utm_content=assk_released_main.

Amnesty Funternational Prep:
Sunday see’s our latest fundraising effort and we’re asking for any help people can give. If you’d like to be involved come along to the planning meeting tomorrow at 5pm in Jims bar. We shall be discussing raffle prizes, games, quizzes, music, cakes and anything that people would like to see at the event. Bring out your inner child!

Thanks very much and thank you for all your continued dedication.

Tags: , , , ,
No Comments »

Avatar photo

Iraqi Shoe-Throwing Journalist Was Tortured

Muntadar al-Zaidi has demanded an apology for the torture he received while in a Baghdad prison for 9 months. Initially convicted to 3 years imprisonment for throwing a shoe to then-President George W Bush, his sentence was reduced and he was recently released 3 months early for good behaviour.

Iraqi officials have called for his claims to be investigated.

(BBC article)

Tags: ,
No Comments »

Avatar photo

AIUK Condemns Detention Plans

Edit: Emma beat me to it. if you want to read what I wrote, you can get it after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry →

Tags: , , ,
No Comments »

Avatar photo

Comedy Night @ The Stand

Just to let everyone who wasn’t able to go know, the comedy night last night was a great laugh. The comedy was delivered by Gary Little, Kevin Bridges, Gus Tawse, Carly Baker and Parrot. There jokes were great and the crowd lapped them up. The raffle gave away an MP3 player, a DVD player, a bottle of champagne, two bottles of wine and the obligatory box of chocolates. We’re not sure how much it raised yet, but I’m sure all who came along enjoyed themselves. I certainly had great fun, and I’d recommend you catch any of the comedians if you can.

robert

Tags: , , ,
No Comments »

Avatar photo

Concern for Bilal Hussein, AP Reporter Detained in Iraq

An Associated Press photographer who has been detained by the US military in Iraq without charge for over 19 months is to now presumably to be charged with having links to terrorist groups, though exact charges are unknown. The case against Bilial Hussein will be prosecuted under the Iraqi criminal code, with an investigative magistrate to determine if there is sufficient evidence to try him.

The problem is, the military have not disclosed what they are specifically accusing him of, or what evidence they will be presenting at the hearing. This makes the case for his defence a little tricky. What’s more, US security forces argue that can continue to detain him even if he is acquitted:

“I think there is still a provision, should it be determined that he still poses a threat, that he can be held as a security detainee … even though he was found to be not guilty for criminal acts by a court”

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman

This assumption is predicated on the US arguing that the UN resolution gives them broad discretionary powers to detain people they believe to pose a “security threat”.

Joel Campagna of the Committee to Protect Journalists expressed his concern over Hussein’s detention, saying

“Governments are increasingly using these detentions as a way to justify their own repression of their media”

The military intends to file a complaint to bring a case against Hussein as early as 29 November, despite AP’s intensive investigation (conducted by former federal prosecutor, Paul Gardephe) having found that he was nothing other than a journalist working in a war zone.

Tags: , , , , ,
No Comments »